Wickets galore on opening day, but ENG edge ahead

The news agency AFP said: Stewards in white coats, gentlemen wearing Panama hats and an expectant crowd milling their way towards Trent Bridge -- there were some familiar scenes on Wednesday in the build-up to the first Ashes Test in Nottingham.

Well, there was all that and more on Day 1 of the most awaited Test series of the year. There was rampaging Peter Siddle and a hungry Australian team that they forgot to account in the equation.

In the opener of the Test series that is often considered the cornerstone of international cricket, England came up woefully short against Siddle and co. The Aussie pacer had the England team crawling on all fours with a hostile spell, picking up his 8th five wicket haul in Tests to end with figures of 5/50 and reducing the side to 180/6 just before the stumps were disturbed for Tea.

James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc took over after the Tea break, each of them taking 2 wickets each, to wrap up the tail and bowl England out for 215 and leave the hosts with much to catch up on if they were to end Day 1 on level ground.

Fortunately for England, they had the bowlers to get them back into the game. Steven Finn and Jimmy Anderson bowled brilliantly in tandem to remove the Australian top-four and help England ended the day in a strong position.

Finn had Shane Watson and Ed Cowan out off consecutive deliveries in his 2nd over to leave AUS in early trouble. Anderson too took little time to come into his own as he had the big fish Michael Clarke out bowled with a peach of a delivery. When 35-year old opener Chris Rogers fell to the same pacer in the 15th over, Australia were in complete doldrums and in need of a miracle. Steven Smith held firm with a dogged knock as Australia ended Day 1 at 75/4.

Earlier, after electing to bat first, it seemed like it would be England's day when the Australians pacers found it extremely hard to find the right line and length. When Pattinson did find his radar soon after, he was immediately rewarded with the prized scalp of Alastair Cook. The England skipper edging behind for a 26-ball 13.

That wicket brought about the best phase of England's innings, with Joe Root and Jonathan Trott keeping the Aussies at bay with a steady stand. Root was the more subdued off the two, but Trott surprisingly took little time to get underway, hitting Siddle for successive boundaries on the leg-side. The duo seemed at ease against the Aussie bowlers bringing up their 50 run stand, but Michael Clarke struck gold soon by bringing Siddle back from the other end.

Siddle struck immediately from the other end, castling Root with a pacy yorker to ensure Clarke's men went into Lunch with the momentum and the chance to take the attack to England. They did just that when the game resumed. Siddle had Kevin Pietersen out caught for 14. Trott slowed down considerably after the double blow and that proved to be his undoing as he was out bowled 2 short of his fifty.

Ian Bell and Johnny Bairstow tried to stem the rot, but Siddle was proving to be unplayable. The duo stitched together 54 runs, but when Siddle had Bell and Matt Prior out in successive overs, England were in dire straits at 180/6 and had to rely on their pacers to bail them out.

When cricket lovers wake on Thursday, they will be consumed with excitement. A concoction of nerves, energy and enthusiasm overcome in readiness for the first day of the Australian Test summer. For Australian and English supporters, there is extra emotion attached for an Ashes series.

Australia captain Michael Clarke was a relieved man after hitting his 8th ODI century in an 88-run win over England at Old Trafford as he played a key role in his first victory over a Test nation in seven months.